Protective system for an overheated journal-bearing and its axle



Nov. 7, 1950 H. BRANDT PROTECTIVE SYSTEM FOR AN OVERHEATED JOURNAL-BEARING AND ITS AXLE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April 30, 1946 Tiqzl INVENTOR. j-[ozuardBranofi Nov. 7, 1950 H. BRANDT PROTECTIVE SYSTEM FOR AN OVERHEATED JOURNAL-BEARING AND ITS AXLE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 50, 1946 INVENTOR. Howa'r'cZBranaZf 7' MM @fiorflg/E Patented Nov. 7, 1950 PROTECTIVE SYSTEM FOR AN OVER- HEATED J OURNAL-BEARING AND ITS AXLE Howard Brandt, New York, N. Y.

Application April 30, 1946, Serial No. 666,168

8 Claims.

This invention relates to a protective system. forioverheated'axles and their journal-bearings;

Moreparticularly, the invention relates to devices in a system of the indicated character for spraying a coolant on an overheated axle and its journal-bearing, and for giving a. suitable visual and/ or audible signal'to indicate the particular axle and journal-bearing affected from beingoverheated.

aTheprincipal object of the present invention is the provision of devices of the indicated characterembodying improvements whereby 'such devices may be applied to conventional or standard' journal boxes in use on railroad cars for the stated purposes.

With the foregoing, other objects and advantages of the invention will appear when the following specification is read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which- Fig. 1 is a verticalsectional view of a conventional journal-bearing box showing a portion of an axle received by the journal-bearing and a protective device of the present invention applied to the box, the section being taken on the line ll of Fig. 2.

Fig. '2 is a side view of the asemblage shown in Fig. l with the box door removed and certain parts being shown in section and broken away.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional view of the electromagnetic and heat responsive signal operating means.

Fig. .4 isa diagrammatic view of a portion of the signal'circuit of the system.

Fig. 5 is atop view of the coolant spraying device with the cover plate removed.

Fig. 6 is a vertical sectional view of another form of coolant spraying and signaling device applied to a journal box or housing.

Fig. '7 is an enlarged sectional view showing certain features of the signaling means of the device shown in Fig. 6.

. Fig. 8 is a fragmentary view of parts of the spraying means of the device shown in Fig. 6.

,Referring now more particularly to Figs. 1 and 2, it will be apparent there is shown a railroad car truck journal box or housing [0 having a spring actuated flop-door I l. A journal-bearing I2 is secured within the box [0 and receives one end of van axle l3 in the usual manner. It is to be understood that the box l0 contains suitable packing, cotton waste or the like for the purpose of lubricating the axle and its journalbearing.

A coolant spraying and signaling device of the present invention is designed and adapted to be secured in functioning position within the box,

H] by removing the door I I. The device includes.

a closed hollow body or container I4 having lugs" llito receive suitable fastening elements It to seculiq the device v to the box It) in the opening in the box closed by the door II. The container I4 is subdivided by a wall ll into compartments or chambers 18 and 19, respectively. The chamber i8 is cylindrical. A cover 20 is fastened by screws 21 to the body of the container making it air tight. A passage 22 is formed in the body of the container 14. The inlet end of the passage 22 is disposed within the chamber l9 and is sealed by means of a nut 23 having a soft lead seal 24. The nut 23 is screwed onto a portion of the container surrounding the inlet end of the passage 22, as shown in Fig. 2. A flexible tube 25 has one end connected with the container [4 in communication with the outlet end of the passage 22 and the other end of the tube 25 has a spray nozzle 25 secured, as at 21, to the journalbearing :2 in spraying relation to the axle I3.

A. suitable coolant or liquid compound 28 substantially fills the chamber 19. It is of such character that it will cool the heated journal-bearing and axle, prevent pitting of the metal of these parts, and extinguish fire. A can 29 of compressed air or gas is fixed within the chamber [9 on a shelf 39 on one of its walls.

Heat responsive or thermodynamic means is provided to puncture the seal 24 to allow the coolant 28 under pressure to flow from the chamber I9 by way of the passage 22 through the tube 25. and its nozzle 26 onto the axle and the journal-bearing. Said means includes a'closed metal container 3| secured to the journal-bearing [2. A tube 32 leads from the container 3| to a hollow corrugated axially extensible and. contractible element 33 arranged within a sectional housing 34 on the cover 20. A suitable fluid fills the container 3|, tube 32 and the element 33 to cause the extension of the element 33 by reason of the expansion of the fluid when heated a predetermined degree. A rod 35 projects from one end of the element 33 parallel to the longitudinal axis of the element 33. The rod 35. is supported for sliding movement by a partition 35 of the housing 34,'the movement of said rod 35 being effected by the extension and contraction of the element 33. Suitable electrical instrumentalities are provided to function in conjunction with the movement of the rod 35 to heat a hollow corrugated axially extensible and contractible fluid filled element 3'! arranged within the cylinder l8 at the bottom thereof. The aforesaid instrumentalities also function to actuate certain audible and visual signals not claimed herein. A piston 38 is secured to the upper end of the element 31. The piston carries a leather cup 39 fitted to the wall of the cylinder [8. The piston 38 serves as a guide. An electrical heating element 45 is arranged in heat conducting relation to the element 31, said element 40- being positioned between the lower end of the element 31 and the bottom of the cylinder [8.

, tact 46.

An electrical contact 4| is fixed on the rod 35 insulated therefrom. The contact 4| cooperates with a resilient contact 42 on the partition 36 insulated therefrom and grounded. The contact 4| is connected by a wire 43 with one terminal of the winding of a relay switch 44 within the housing 34. A wire 45 connects one contact of the switch 44 with a fixed contact 46 on the partition 36 insulated therefrom. A wire 41 connects the other contact of switch 44 with one terminal of the heating element 49 whose other terminal is connected with the positive sideof the source of electrical energy. A resilient contact 48 on the partition 36 insulated therefrom cooperates with the contact 46. A cam 49 on the rod 35 holds the contact 48 out of engagement with the contact 46 under normal conditi-ons,=or when the element 33 is contracted. When the element 53 is extended the cam 49, through the intervention of the rod 35, moves out of engagement with the contact 48 allowing it tospring into engagement with the contact 45. A wire 58 connects'the contact'48 with one terminal of a buzzer whose other terminal is grounded as at 52. The buzzer 5| is arranged within the housing 34. A wire 53 leads to a relay switch 54 electrically connected with a red lamp 55 and a yellow lamp 56 suitably grounded, as shown in Fig. 4. The lamps are arranged on the engineers instrument board. The provision and arrangement is such that the red lamp 55 lights when a hot box occurs. The yellow lamp 56 is used as a tell-tale signal to indicate all electrical installations of a train are in working order. A normally closed switch 51 operated by the rod 35 is connected in series with the coil of the switch 54. A switch 58 in series with the lamp 56 are connected in parallel with the source of electrical energy and the common return or ground. The switch 58 is normally closed by the armature of the switch 54 due to the energization oi its coil. The switch 51 is closed by the rod 35 in its normalposition causing energizati-on 'ofthe coil of switch 54 which in turn attracts the armature and closes the switch 58, thereby closing a circuit through the lamp 56. When the rod 35 is advanced by the expansion of the element 33, the switch 51 will be opened, thereby breaking the circuit through the coil of switch 54 and atthe same time closing the switch 54, asshojwn in Fig. 4.

The heat responsive means also includes a rock 7 lever 68 supported by and arranged within the' container |4. One end 6| of the lever is in the path of the piston 38 and the other end 62 is pivotally connected with a pointed plunger 63 having guided movement through the shelf 30' and in a guide 64 on the wall of the chamber |9 in puncturing relation to the seal 24. A spring 65 surrounds the plunger 63 between the shelf 30 and a shoulder of the plunger to yieldingly retain the plunger up away from the seal 24. A second pointed plunger 66 is carried by the rocker end 62 in puncturing relation to the can 29.

From the foregoing it will be understood that in the caseof a hot box or when the journalbearing I2 becomes excessively heated, the fluid V in the container 3| will expand. This causes the axial extension of the element 33, thereby moving the rod with the result that the contact 4| engages the contact 42 and the cam 49 releases the contact 48 which in turn engages the con- This causes the coil of the switch 54 to be deenergized as shown in Fig. 4. Current flows from the source of electrical energy through to puncture the seal 81.

the red lamp 55, switch 54, wire 53, coil of the switch 44, wire 43, contacts 4| and 42 to the ground. At the same time current flows from the source of electrical energy through the heating element 40, wire 41, armature of the switch 44, wire 45, contacts 46 and 48 and the buzzer 5| to the ground 52. As a consequence, the heating element is energized, the red lamp is lighted, and the buzzer 5| is operating. The heat of the element 40 expands the fluid in the element 31 causing the axial extension of the latter. As the element 31 extends the piston 38 carried thereby, operates the lever causing'the plungers 63 and 66 to puncture the seal 24 and the can 29, respectively. The compressed fluid liberated from thecan 29 puts the coolant '28 under pressure and forces it outof the chamber l9 through the. passage 22, tube '25 and nozzle 26 against the-journal-bearing l2 and axle t3 for the stated purposes. The lamp 55 warns the engineer to slow down or to stop the train. The buzzer 5| indicates the particular hot box.

In Fig. 6there is shown a modified form of device. It is applied to a conventional housing 18 ofa roller journal-bearing 1| and the end of an axle 12 extending into the bearing. The device includes boxi13 having an opening 14 and. a cover 15 removably held in place by pivoted spring clamps 16. The jacketed walls of the box are'filled with suitable insulating material 11, A closed container 18 having a suitable coolant 19 fits within the box 13, in heat convection. relation to said axle and its bearing. The container 18 has a cap of bellows or corrugated construction so as to be axially extensible under internal pressure. A rod 8| hasone'endxthereof secured to the cap 80 and its opposite end is pivotally connected, as at 82, with "an arm 83. One end of the arm 83 is pivotally connected, as at 84, with the container 18. The opposite end of the arm has a lateral pointed projection 85. The arm 83 together with the rod 8| 'as well as the coolant, are put into the container 18 before the cap 80 is welded or otherwise fastened to the body of the container. A flexible tube 86 extends into the container 18 apuncturable seal 81 on its inner end in relation to the projection 85. The other end of the tube 86 has a nozzle 88' extending through the opening 14 adjacent the .bearing 1| and the axle 12. The parts '86, 81 and 88 are shown most clearly in Fig. 8. The tube .86 is secured to a fixed lug 89 on the container 18.

The coolant 19 containing a sufii'cienit amount of ether will build up a pressure within the container when subjected to heat. When the axle and its bearing become heated to an unsafe operatingtemperature, the excess heat will be transmitted through the wall of the container 18 to the coolant 19"causingexpansion'and a corresponding pressure. This will cause the expansion or extension of the cap illl with the result that the rod 8| pulled by the cap will swing the arm 83 and so causetheprojection-W As a consequence'tne coolant 19 will be forced out of the container 18 through the tube 86 and its nozzle 88 over the bearing 1| and its axle 12, thereby cooling them.

The container 18 and its pressure operated cap 80 also serve for controlling the operationof a signaling device. The device includes an arm 98 which is pivotally connected, as at 91, with the box 13 for movement in the opening 14. The lower end of the arm 90 is connected, as at 92, with. a driving unit 93. unitincludes a rigid shaft 94 having a wheel 95 fast thereon. The wheel has a rubber periphery to effectually cooperate with a driving disk 96 of wire mesh or the like secured to the end of, the axle 12. The shaft 94 is coupled with a flexible shaft or cable 97 encased in a tubular sheath 98 whose outer end is secured to the box 13. The turntable 99 of a phonograph I is rotated by the shaft 91. A disk IOI having a suitable sound record thereon is arranged on the turntable 99. The sound rec- 0rd, for instance, may be Attention Engineer or Warning Hot-Box or both. A pivoted cover I02 on the box 13 encases the turntable and the disk WI, and supports an electrical transmitter I03 which picks up the sound record. The message may be transmitted over the intercommunicating system on a train to the engineers cab.

The driving unit 93 is yieldingly held in an idle position by a leaf spring I04 onthe box I3. Another leaf spring I05 on the arm 90 bears on the cap 80. When the cap 80 is extended due to the overheated axle, the unit 93 will be swung into a position in which the wheel 95 contacts" the driving disk 96 thereby causing the operation of the phonograph for the statedpurposes.

I claim: I

1. In a protective system for cooling an excessively heated axle and its journal-bearing, a closed container body having therein a suitable cooling medium, a conduit extending from inside of said body to the outside thereof, a puncturable seal which normally blocks the outflow of the cooling medium through said conduit from said body, means operable to puncture the seal to allow the outflow of the cooling medium, said body having a normally contracted but extensi ble portion connected with said puncturing means to operate the latter when said portion is extended due to the pressure generated within said body by reason of convected heat of the journal-bearing and its axle.

2. In a protective system of the character described, the combination with an axle-journal, of a thermally actuated axially extensible and contractible element, an electric circuit including a heater in heat conducting relation to said element, heat responsive means connected with said axle-journal which is actuated when said axlejournal becomes excessively heated to close said circuit to energize said heater to extend said element, and means actuated in response to the extension of said element to spray a coolant on said axle-journal.

3. In a protective system of the character described, the combination with an axle and its bearing, of a closed container filled-with a thermally expansible coolant therein in heat convection relation to said axle and its bearing, said container being constructed to provide means which is extensible by pressure of the coolant when the latter is expanded from excessive heat of the axle and bearing transmitted to the coolant through a wall of the container, a conduit extending from the inside of the container to a point in spraying relation to said axle and bearing, said conduit having a puncturable seal to block the fiow of coolant out through the conduit from the container, and means actuated by said extensible means when extended to puncture said seal so that the coolant may flow out of the container through the conduit against said axleand bearing.

4. In a protective system as set forth in claim 3, and a signaling device having rotary driving 6 means shiftable into driving engagement-with said axle to be operated in response to the rotation of said axle, said extensible means upon being extended serving to shift said driving means into engagement with said axle for the purposeof operating the. signaling device.

5. In a protective system as set forth in claim 3, and a phonographic signaling device having a rotary driving means shiftable into driving engagement with said axle to be operated in response to the rotation of said axle, said extensible means upon being extended serving to shift said driving means into engagement with said axle for the purpose of operating the signaling device.

6. The combination with an axle and its journal-bearing, of means operable to spray a cooling medium on theaxle, and heat responsive means in cooperative relation to the axle and journal-bearing to operate the spraying means when the axle and journal-bearing become overheated, said spraying means inoluding a conduit having a puncturable seal which normally blocks the flow of the cooling medium, and said heat responsive means including a movable member adapted to puncture the seal enabling the cool-v spraying means including a closed container of cooling fluid, a conduit having a puncturable seal which normally blocks the flow of the cooling fluid, and a second container of compressed num within the first container, and said heat responsive means including a device operable to puncture the seal and the second container causing the cooling fluid to flow for the stated purpose.

8. The combination with an axle and its journal-bearing, of means operable to spray a cooling medium on the axle, and heat responsive means in cooperative relation to the axle and journal-bearing to operate the spraying means when the axle and journal-bearing become overheated, said spraying means including a container of compressed fluid, said container being puncturable, a closed body having a coolant and said container therein, and a conduit extending from the inside of said body tothe outside thereof, said conduit havingv a puncturable seal on its inner end, and said heat responsive means including a movable member having means to puncture the container to release the fluid to subject the coolant to pressure, said movable member also having means connected therewith to puncture said seal to liberate the coolant.

HOWARD BRANDT.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

